Tony Olutomiwa, Yenagoa
It was a deft move by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, when last week he wrote to the leadership of the state’s House of Assembly, informing the Speaker and members why he declined assent to a pension bill presented to him to sign.
The bill with the title: “A bill for a law to provide for payment of pension for governors, deputy governors and members of the state House of Assembly”, listed different categories of beneficiaries and payable pensions.
Major provisions of the bill include: “Any indigene that has served as governor, deputy governor or member of the state House of Assembly of Bayelsa or old Rivers State shall be entitled to pension for life, as provided in this law.
“Notwithstanding the above, any of the above mentioned officers that was removed from office by the process of impeachment, recall, resignation, death or whose election was annulled by a court of competent jurisdiction shall not be entitled to pension as provided in this law.
“The sum payable as pension under the provisions of this law shall be charged on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.
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“The total pension for governor and deputy governor is as provided in the schedule.”
The bill further specified that a Speaker shall be entitled to five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) and the deputy speaker shall be entitled to the three hundred thousand (N300,000) naira, while others, including the House leaders and the whips and other members of the house, were also categorised in accordance with their pension benefits.
However, the governor felt otherwise and quickly held consultations with the assembly members in his country home, Toru-Orua, where he explained his reason for declining assent.
Dickson politely told the house members that the bill was inconsistent with Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He was of the view that the state assembly lacked the powers to expand the categories of public servants, who should be entitled to pension.
In withholding his assent to the bill, the governor also took into consideration the economic situation in the state, which he believed was not suitable to accommodate such pension proposal, adding that Bayelsa would be the first state to enact such law, expanding pensionable public servants.
He averred that signing the bill would give a select few privileges at the expense of the mass of the people; a situation he said was in contrast with his government’s philosophy, which had in the last seven years served the interest of the vulnerable in the state.
Dickson stated in his letter as follows: “The provisions of the bill, granting p, who served in the old Rivers State House of Assembly is inconsistent with Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“I am not convinced about the legality of this bill, which seeks to expand the categories of persons entitled to pension. While I agree that the Assembly can adjust the quantum of pension payable to persons entitled to pension, I am not convinced that the House has powers to add to the categories of pensionable public officers.
““Evidently, there is no record of any other state in this country that has expanded the categories of pensionable public officers to include lawmakers. I do not agree that Bayelsa, which is coping with all the myriads of issues and challenges, with our low Internally Generated Revenue base and the unpredictable oil economy, should be the first to initiate this.
“Honourable members of this Assembly, Bayelsans and other Nigerians following our progress as a government would clearly attest to the fact that in my entire public service, actions and decisions are marked by what is in the public interest, particularly the interest of the vulnerable, ordinary people.
“It is my philosophy that government should not be for a select few. In the last seven years, my actions and decisions, which have sometimes elicited opposition from the elite who have been feeding fat on the resources of our state, have been marked by this singular disposition of mine.
“And I do not intend at this point to abandon that. Rather I intend to do more and to consolidate on the policies and actions which have been taken to protect the vulnerable. Therefore, I am unable to assent to this bill which in my view aims to expand and consolidate the class interest of a privileged few.”
But what the governor did not indicate in his letter was the political consequence of the bill if he had signed it. Coming six months to a crucial election, it would have provided ammunition for his opponents in the other political parties to campaign against his government, as being insensitive.
Indeed, The Nigerian Xpress gathered that some people were already waiting for the governor’s assent to the bill to mobilise for a major protest in Yenagoa, the state capital. As such, it was a relief because such protest would have resonated with the people, who could express their discontent by voting against the governor’s party in the next election. After all, democracy is all about the people whose feelings and expectations should guide the conduct and actions of their elected representatives.
A source also told The Nigerian Xpress that Dickson’s decision on the pension bill was wise and expedient, especially on the economic parameter and, of course, the legal consideration. In the face of mounting economic challenges on account of the vagaries of oil receipts, which provide the bulk of government’s finances, it was an inevitable decision because it is unsustainable.
Yet considering the governor’s warm relationship with the state assembly, which he often describes as the most productive in the country and a speaker he addresses as the best performing speaker, perhaps, it could have been easy for him to sign the bill to, at least, make them happy, more so, in a country where leaders often sidetrack constitutionalism to serve narrow interest. But the governor toed the path of honour and trust and responsibly declined his assent to the bill. As it is said, leadership is best evaluated when it is time to take difficult decision and in this case Dickson rose to the occasion.
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Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor was convinced on his assertions that the bill lacked legality and could not be implemented within the context of prevailing economic realities, adding that he had always sided with the people on issues of public interest.
He said: “The governor was very clear when he summoned the leadership and members of the house to his country home in Toru-Orua to explain to them his reasons for declining assent to the bill.
“He is always one who acts in the public interest and by declining assent to this bill, the governor has once again, demonstrated that he is with the people. He has the interest of the people at heart.
“He supports any initiative that would provide succour to the people. His government in the last seven and half years has done all to support the weak and vulnerable. And that’s what government is all about,” Iworiso-Markson explained.
Also a non-governmental organisation, Embasara Foundation, condemned the bill, which it said was “a bad piece of attempted legislation passed in haste and revealing secrecy.” The groiup hailed the governor for declining assent.
Chairman, Media Committee of the foundation, Ayakeme Whisky, at a press conference in Yenagoa, the state capital, said of the governor’s refusal to sign the pension bill: “It is gratifying to note that the governor has withheld assent to the bill, which means he is a listening governor. He is always sympathetic to the cries of the governed and we really thank the governor for hearkening to the sense of reason, for listening to the cries of the people, for standing with the people.”